PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has voiced serious concern over the high number of road fatalities among young Malaysians, describing the figures as a troubling and escalating trend.
Speaking after a Cabinet briefing, Unity Government spokesperson and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said a report from the Road Safety Committee revealed that some 4,000 young people lost their lives in road accidents during 2024, with the vast majority of cases involving motorcycles.
“This is a worrying trend. The Transport Ministry will take follow-up action on this,” Fahmi told reporters during his weekly post-Cabinet press conference.
The minister noted that overall, Malaysia recorded 6,464 fatal road accidents throughout 2024, slightly lower than the 6,473 cases in 2023 but higher than the 6,080 reported in 2022.
Fatal accidents during the first half of last year alone amounted to 3,087 cases involving all types of vehicles.
Fahmi emphasised that the report presented to the Cabinet highlighted the urgent need for more coordinated and assertive road safety measures, particularly targeting young road users who remain the most vulnerable.
“This figure is deeply worrying and was raised by the Prime Minister during today’s Cabinet meeting. Most of the fatalities involved motorcycle accidents,” he said.
The government is expected to consider enhanced regulations, public awareness campaigns, and stricter enforcement measures to address the rising trend of youth fatalities on Malaysian roads, a concern that has drawn national attention following consecutive years of high casualty figures. - February 6, 2026